M & N Motor Services, owned by husband and wife Mark and Trude Evans have acquired new premises at Abersychan Industrial Estate, Pontypool, after a £275,000 investment supported by Barclays.

The vehicle repair and MOT testing station currently employs five staff and expects turnover to exceed £200,000 this year.

Mark Evans, owner of M & N Motor Services, said: “We were being asked to pay rental increases of 30 per cent at our former premises so we decided to look into the possibility of acquiring our own unit. We spoke to Barclays who agreed the funding in principle and the rest is history. We are now operating from a new purpose-built unit with better facilities, better location, additional customer parking and paying £1,000 less a month in mortgage payments. Commercially it was a no brainer.”

Debra Reader, Barclays Business banking manager, said: “As champions of local business, it is essential that we support local growing businesses such as M & N Motor Services. This is a great example of an entrepreneur using their experience, contacts and skills to develop a successful business. By really understanding the business and issues they have faced, Barclays has been able to support the business throughout its development. The new premises have been a great success, providing additional space, storage, parking and great location for the existing customer base.”

Trude Evans said: “We currently service around 1,200 vehicles a year and the new investment will allow us to grow our business. Running a business is tough and with Mark’s expertise integral to the business it is always difficult to take time off or truly relax away from the business. We want to attract new customers to the new site and also have plans to offer basic car maintenance courses to female drivers who would be interested in carrying out basic car maintenance such as how to check the brakes, oil, tyres and change a wheel if required.”